How do primary secondary and tertiary alcohols differ?

Question

Nolan Allen · Accepted Answer

#RCH_2OH, 1^@; R_2CHOH, 2^@, R_3COH, 3^@#

How many hydrogens are attached to the ipso carbon (which is the carbon to which the oxygen is directly bound)? If there are 2 hydrogens, then this is a primary, #1^@#, alcohol. Ethanol is a primary alcohol by necessity. If there is only the one hydrogen bound to the ipso carbon, then this is a secondary alcohol, an example of which is isopropanol. And should there NO hydrogens attached, a tertiary, #3^@# alcohol is specified, for example tert-butyl alcohol, #(H_3C)_3C-OH#.

Some texts make the distiction between #1^@# alcohols and methanol, the which tends to be more reactive than primary alcohols, but this is something we can tolerate. Under oxidative conditions, primary alcohols can be oxidized to aldehydes, then to carboxylic acids (it is in fact hard to stop at the aldehyde). Secondary alcohols can be oxidized up to ketones; and tertiary alcohols are usually inert to oxidation.

Refer to this website for references.

Christian Anderson · Answer

undefined Primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols differ based on the number of carbon atoms attached to the carbon atom bearing the hydroxyl group. In a primary alcohol, the carbon bearing the hydroxyl group is attached to only one other carbon atom. In a secondary alcohol, it is attached to two other carbon atoms, and in a tertiary alcohol, it is attached to three other carbon atoms. This difference affects the reactivity and physical properties of the alcohols, with primary alcohols typically being more reactive than secondary and tertiary alcohols.